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Having already seen Woods perform in front of the Joshua Light Show last year at Abrons Arts Center (possibly the best show I saw that year), I wasn’t sure Woods could top the unique setting or outstanding performance. But then they announced that their Northside Festival performance would be held at St. Cecilia’s Roman Catholic Church, an impressive old-style cathedral nestled on a quiet block of East Williamsburg, and I knew they would have the opportunity to do both. Set against an imposing backdrop of religious icons and an American flag, Woods played a majestic set that, yes, could probably be called a religious experience. Although the band was celebrating the release of their well-received new record, Sun and Shade, rather than playing through the new record, they took the journey in a different direction reminiscent of the Abrons Arts Center show. All the qualities that led me to call them the “preeminent indie rock jam band” after that show were on full display on this night, as they wove deep psychedelic experimentation throughout some of their best-known songs. Combined with the cavernous room, the effect was magical, spiritual and satisfying. The set kicked off with “Pushing Onlys” from the new record, followed by a string of favorites – “Blood Dries Darker”, a typically extended “Bend Beyond” and “Rain On,” before taking a mellow interlude with “Be All Be Easy” and “Say Goodbye” from Sun and Shade. Things picked up after that with a mix of old and new material, with the set climaxing with a trippy, mind-blowing twelve-minute version of “I Was Gone” that rivaled the incredible “Bend Beyond” from the Abrons show. The band also played a new song, “Mind Them Empty,” which will be out next month on a 7″ on Sacred Bones Records. This is why Woods shows are always exciting experiences, and why I continue to believe they could very well be Brooklyn’s best live band right now. The band will hosting the upcoming Woodsist Festival in Big Sur, which will feature some natural beauty that Northside perhaps lacks. But for man-made incredible shows in equally grand surroundings, this show at St. Cecilia’s will be a very, very difficult one to top.

I recorded this set with a well-mixed soundboard feed from the house engineer Chris (who like many of the hardworking engineers at Northside, seemed to be inundated with late-breaking requests for board feeds), combined with Schoeps supercardiod microphones that picked up the natural sound of the room. The results are excellent. Enjoy!

Today is the final day of the Northside Festival, and there are still many great evening shows to go to – including ours! Please check out our showcase, co-sponsored with Pop Tarts Suck Toasted, at Public Assembly, starting at 8pm, featuring eleven incredible up-and-coming bands!

Stream “Be All Be Easy”:

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Stream “I Was Gone”:

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Tracks [Total Time: 1:01:03]
01 Pushing Onlys
02 Suffering Season
03 Blood Dries Darker
04 Bend Beyond
05 Rain On
06 Be All Be Easy
07 Say Goodbye
08 Find Them Empty
09 To Have In the Home
10 To Clean
11 Get Back
12 I Was Gone

If you download this recording from nyctaper, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Woods, visit their website, and purchase their official releases, including Sun and Shade, from Woodist Records [HERE].

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